Organ harvesting: Wellington Clinics suspends kidney transplants amid police probe

Wellington Clinics in Abuja has suspended all kidney transplant services following a police investigation into allegations of organ harvesting. According to the hospital, it neither participated nor benefited from any financial arrangement linked to the April 24, 2026, kidney operation. Police allege that a 22-year-old man, identified as Samuel Ezekiel, was deceived into providing his kidney for $1,250 (approximately N1.7m).

The hospital maintains that the donor, under the name Abubakar Hassan, was admitted as a scheduled donor, underwent a left donor nephrectomy, and the kidney was transplanted into a patient with end-stage kidney failure. Wellington's records show that the donor was discharged on April 28, four days after the operation, and readmitted once for wound management.

Despite the allegations, Wellington stated that it relied on the presented documents and was unaware of any misrepresentation or manipulation of identity at the time. The hospital is now cooperating with the police investigation while suspending its renal transplant-related services.